Microsoft’s head of corporate strategy is leaving the company in June
Yet another Microsoft executive is leaving the company.
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What you need to know
Kurt DelBene, Microsoft executive vice president and head of corporate strategy and core services engineering, will leave the company at the end of the 2021 fiscal year. DelBene will not be replaced by one individual. Instead, his job is being split between multiple executives. In addition to these roles, DelBene is also a member of Microsoft’s Senior Leadership Team.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told Microsoft employees about DelBene’s plans on January 25, 2021 (via ZDNet).
DelBene first joined Microsoft in 1992 and later led the companies engineering and marketing for Office. In 2013, DelBene left Microsoft and became a senior advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to help with the Affordable Care Act enrollment website. DelBene then worked at Madrona Venture Group starting in 2014.
In 2015, DelBene returned to Microsoft to lead its corporate strategy and core services engineering. His role included being in charge of leading Microsoft’s cross-engineering and cross-business strategy.
DelBene also helped Nadella identify investments and execute strategic initiatives. Most recently, DelBene’s role at Microsoft included leading the company’s response to the current global pandemic.
According to Nadella, the core services engineering and digital security and risk engineering aspects of DelBene’s job will transition to executive vice president Scott Guthrie’s Cloud and AI organization. Microsoft business operations will move to finance under the leadership of chief financial officer Amy Hood. Corporate strategy will move to the new business development organization under Chris Young.
A more complete summary of DelBene’s history at Microsoft can be found in aMicrosoft news post.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
